Bob, North Carolina, 1969, 1-Y: Out and off to France

I was at UNC, not motivated in the general classes, and met a number of veterans who’d come back from Vietnam who were "highly" motivated. They didn’t know what they wanted to do, mind you, but they were intensely glad to be in school. Before...

Gary, North Carolina, 1969. No. 366! Last is best.

I was a sophomore at UNC in the Spring of 1969. I had been at some campus function the night that the first lottery was held. I got back to my dorm room and started listening to the radio, having missed hearing the first 30 or so birthdates. I listened intently for...

Jimmy, North Carolina, 1969. No. 197: Not called

I remember watching the lottery number assignments on televison, and my roomate and I were very nervous until our birthdates were drawn.  As my 1969 number was 197, I anxiously followed the draft each of the next several months.  My...

Tom, Florida, 1969. No. 218: Not called, not sorry

I clearly remember gathering around the TV with my UNC college friends the night the draft lottery took place. One of my friends was in Navy ROTC and drew #11. We all laughed, he was going. He wound up in CIC (combat information section) on board a carrier in the Med...

Chuck, North Carolina, 1969. No. 349: Law Enforcement

I was a Junior at UNC and was married and had a small child.  I decided to join the Air Force since my Dad had been in the Army Air Corps in WWII.  I had taken the tests etc. when the lottery was announced.  I decided to wait and see what my number was...

David, North Carolina, 1969. No. 69: Medical Reserves

I was a Senior at UNC-Chapel Hill and scheduled to graduate in May 1970.  I was engaged and hoping to be married soon after graduation.  MY LOTTERY NUMBER WAS 69. So it was pretty obvious I was going to get drafted.  Not something I was interested in...